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Visas and migration

If you want information about the items listed below, follow the appropriate link:

Visas - Permanent and Temporary
Australian Citizenship
 

Immigration

Australia's culturally diverse society includes its Indigenous peoples and settlers from countries all around the world.

Immigration is an important feature of Australian society. Since 1945, over six million people from 200 countries have come to Australia as new settlers. Migrants have made a major contribution to shaping modern Australia. People born overseas make up almost one quarter of the total population.

The federal government sets immigration intake numbers on a yearly basis. Australia 's immigration policies are non-discriminatory and all applicants to migrate must meet the same selection criteria.

Each category in the Migration Program has specific criteria which are set down in law in the Migration Act and Migration Regulations. The program is global and non-discriminatory in character, which means that an applicant's nationality, ethnic origin, sex, colour or religion are of no relevance in assessing their ability to meet the criteria. The government is committed to turning the emphasis of the Migration Program increasingly towards skilled migration, while maintaining a commitment to family reunion migration.

Humanitarian program

Humanitarian migrants are people from overseas who have been designated as refugees by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, and other people in humanitarian need. This includes people who have suffered substantial discrimination amounting to gross violations of their human rights, and displaced people with close links to Australia. Australia has the third largest dedicated resettlement program in the world and in 2004-05 our humanitarian program will increase to offer 13 000 new places.

 


You might also want to consult our Travelling to Australia and Customs and Quarantine sections on this Website.

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